© 2009 International Monetary Fund
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Typesetting: Alicia Etchebarne-Bourdin
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Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The role of the exchange rate in inflation-targeting emerging economies / Mark Stone … [et al.]. – Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2009.
p. ; cm. – (Occasional paper, 0251-6365 ; 267)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 9781589067967
1. Foreign exchange rates – Developing countries. 2. Monetary Policy — Developing countries. 3. Inflation (Finance) — Developing countries. I. Stone, M. (Mark Richard). II. International Monetary Fund. III. Occasional paper (International Monetary Fund) ; no. 267.
HG3877.R65 2009
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Contents
Preface
I Executive Summary
Summary of Key Findings
II Introduction
III Why the Exchange Rate Plays a Large Role in Emerging Economies
Pass-Through from the Exchange Rate to Inflation
Output Stability
Financial and External Stability
Underdeveloped Financial Markets
Credibility
Other Exchange Rate Policy Channels
IV Different Roles for the Exchange Rate and the Policy Trade-Offs
A Taxonomy of Inflation-Targeting Approaches
Evaluation of Alternative Inflation-Targeting Approaches
V Foreign Exchange Market Intervention in Inflation-Targeting Policy Implementation
Plain Vanilla Inflation Targeting
Open-Economy Inflation Targeting
Inflation Targeting with Exchange Rate Bands
Exchange-Rate-Based Inflation Targeting
VI Transitioning to Full-Fledged Inflation Targeting
The Policy Role of the Exchange Rate
Central Bank Policymaking
Transparency
Financial Market Development
Financial and External Stability Policies
VII Implications of Recent Global Shocks
Inflation Pressure and Capital Inflows
The Global Financial and Economic Crisis
Implications
VIII Conclusions
Why Are Emerging Economies Particularly Concerned about the Exchange Rate?
How Should the Exchange Rate Be Taken into Account in an Inflation- Targeting Framework?
What Is the Appropriate Role of Foreign Exchange Market Intervention in Inflation-Targeting Policy Implementation?
What Key Issues Warrant Further Work?
IX Case Studies in the Role of the Exchange Rate in Inflation-Targeting Emerging Economies
Guatemala
Hungary
Iceland
Kazakhstan
Peru
Philippines
Singapore
South Africa
X Foreign Exchange Intervention Practices: Selected Cases
Azerbaijan
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
New Zealand
Romania
Serbia
Sweden
Turkey
Appendix I
Appendix II. The Small Open-Economy Model
References
Boxes
2.1. Country Groups Used in the Analysis
5.1. Foreign Exchange Intervention: Matching Objectives and Practices
5.2. Foreign Exchange Intervention in Emerging Economies
5.3. Transparency of Foreign Exchange Intervention
9.1. The National Fund of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Figures
4.1. Plain Vanilla Inflation Targeting in a Robust Advanced Economy and a Vulnerable Emerging Economy
4.2. Alternative Policy Rules and the Variability of Inflation and Output in Advanced and Emerging Economies
4.3. The Impact of an Exchange Rate Objective on the Variability of Inflation and Output in Robust Advanced and Vulnerable Emerging Economies
4.4. Performance of Alternative Policy Rules on Macroeconomic and Financial Volatility in Advanced and Emerging Economies
7.1. Emerging Market Inflation-Targeting Economies, External Vulnerability and Foreign Exchange Intervention
Tables
2.1. Exchange Rate Arrangements and Foreign Exchange Intervention Practices (Selected Countries)
2.2. Exchange Rate and Reserve Volatility, 1996–2007 (Selected Countries)
3.1. Dollar Deposits, Share of Total (Selected Countries)
3.2. Market Development Indicators (Selected Countries)
3.3. Indicators of Credibility (Selected Countries)
7.1. Inflation-Targeting Economies, Macroeconomic and Policy Developments, December 2006–August 2008
7.2. Inflation-Targeting Economies, Macroeconomic and Policy Developments, August 2008–March 2009
9.1. CBI: Exchange Rate Considerations in Monetary Policy during 2006
9.2. Monetary Authority of Singapore: Policy Developments since 1981
A1.1. Intervention Practices of Inflation-Targeting Economies, Late 2007
A1.2. Intervention Practices of Emerging Economies with Other Anchors, Late 2007
A2.1. Parameter Calibration of the Advanced and Emerging Economy Models
A2.2. Reaction Function Coefficients
The following conventions are used in this publication:
In tables, a blank cell indicates “not applicable,” ellipsis points (…) indicate “not available,” and 0 or 0.0 indicates “zero” or “negligible.” Minor discrepancies between sums of constituent figures and totals are due to rounding.
An en dash (–) between years or months (for example, 2007-08 or January-June) indicates the years or months covered, including the beginning and ending years or months; a slash or virgule (/) between years or months (for example, 2007/08) indicates a fiscal or financial year, as does the abbreviation FY (for example, FY2008).
“Billion” means a thousand million; “trillion” means a thousand billion.
“Basis points” refer to hundredths of 1 percentage point (for example, 25 basis points are equivalent to ¼ of 1 percentage point).
As used in this publication, the term “country” does not in all cases refer to a territorial entity that is a state as understood by international law and practice. As used here, the term also covers some territorial entities that are not states but for which statistical data are maintained on a separate and independent basis.
Preface
This Occasional Paper explores the role of exchange rates in emerging economies with inflation-targeting regimes, an issue that has become especially germane during the current episode of financial turmoil and volatile capital flows. Under inflation targeting, the interest rate is the main monetary policy tool for influencing activity and inflation. However, there is little agreement about the appropriate role of the exchange rate. The need for further understanding of this issue is manifest in the wide array of exchange rate practices undertaken by emerging market economies, the dearth of academic analysis of this issue, and the high demand for IMF technical assistance on exchange rate issues among emerging economies that currently have inflation-targeting regimes or intend to adopt inflation targeting. This paper benefits from the unique perspective available to the IMF as a result of its near-universal membership and its cross-country analytical and operational work on the role of the exchange rate, which is at the core of the IMF’s work on surveillance. This paper benefited from discussions with Karl Habermeier, the contribution of Carlos José Garcia Toledo to the modeling, and the research assistance of Harald Anderson and Claudia Jadrijevic.
The opinions expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Monetary Fund or its Executive Directors.
Hervé Ferhani
Deputy Director
Monetary and Capital Markets Department